Little is known about whether tamoxifen (TAM) can affect resting state microglia apoptosis and about the cellular mechanism that may account for this. To explore this question, we incubated the microglia cell line BV-2 cells with TAM at different concentrations. Cell viability was assessed by the MTT assay, and flow cytometric analysis was performed to detect the cell apoptosis rate. Furthermore, mitochondrial membrane potential (Δψm) was tested by flow cytometry, and Bax, Bcl-2, Fas, and Fas-L expression was detected by Western blot. The results demonstrated that TAM decreased cell viability and induced apoptosis of BV-2 cells in a concentration- and time-dependent manner. In addition, disruption of Δψm was followed by up-regulated expression of pro-apoptotic Bax, Fas and Fas-L, and down-regulated expression of anti-apoptotic Bcl-2. These results indicate that TAM may induce apoptosis of BV-2 cells through both mitochondria- and death receptor-mediated pathways.

Objective To investigate the clinical characteristics,minimal invasive operation technique and perioperative management of lateral ventrieular tumors.Methods The clinical characteristics,image diagnosis,surgical approaches and postoperative management and surgical outcomes of 65 consecutive cases of lateral ventricular tumors were retrospectively analyzed.Results In our series,total resection was achieved in 54 cases,and subtotal resection was achieved in 11 cases.Lateral ventricular tumors were mostly found in male and in the left side.Headache caused by increased intracranial pressure was the most common clinical symptom.Ependymocytoma and astrocytic glioma are the most common pathologic diagnosis.Postoperative complications included fever (26 cases),hydrocephalus (9 cases),intraventricular hematoma (7 cases) of which 2 cases were evacuated by craniotomy,epilepsy (7 cases),wound infection (3 cases).Postoperative death was happened in 3 cases.Two of them died of respiratory failure due to postoperative epilepsy.Conclusion Early discovery of lateral ventricle tumors,meticulous operation,subtle micromanipulation and right postoperative treatment are the criticality to improve the rate of total resection of lateral ventricle tumors through microsurgical treatment and reduce postoperative complications and mortality.

Objective To compare three dimensional arterial spin labeling(3D-ASL) and dynamic susceptibility contrast-perfusion weighted imaging(DSC-PWI) in evaluating the cerebral hemodynamic of Moyamoya disease. Methods Approved by the institutional review board, 26 cases of Moyamoya patients who were diagnosed by DSA were enrolled. Diffusion weighted image, 3D-TOF-MRA, 3D-ASL, DSC-WPI, and T1WI were performed in 3.0 T MR scanner. ROI were positioned in the abnormal perfusion areas and the control area according to the arterial dominant territory to obtain quantitative parameters of perfusion. Perfusion parameters including cerebral blood flow(CBF) of ASL, cerebral blood flow(CBF), cerebral blood volume(CBV), mean transit time(MTT), and time to peak(TTP)of DSC-PWI , and relative parameters (ASL-rCBF, DSC-rCBF, DSC-rCBV, DSC-rMTT, DSC-rTTP) that the ratio of abnormal perfusion area and the control area were calculated. Meanwhile, the areas of the lower perfusion region of ASL and TTP images in the same slice were measured. Difference of the above-mentioned parameters and areas was processed by paired Student′ t test. Furthermore, correlation of relative values of perfusion parameters(ASL-rCBF, DSC-rCBF, DSC-rCBV, DSC-rMTT, and DSC-rTTP) was processed by Pearson correlation test. Results There were significant statistics differences between values of ASL-CBF, DSC-MTT, and DSC-TTP in abnormal perfusion [(28.18 ± 10.19)ml · 100 g-1 · min-1,(7.98 ± 2.22)s,(29.93 ± 3.95)s] and the control areas [(49.50 ± 11.37)ml · 100 g-1 · min-1,(6.07 ± 1.11)s,(27.34 ± 2.58)s] (t=-12.818, 4.193, 6.163, all P<0.01). There was no significant statistics difference in the lower perfusion area between ASL-CBF [(5 729.63 ± 4 563.79) mm2]and DSC-TTP[(5 875.33 ± 4 723.08)mm2](t=-1.774,P>0.05). Furthermore, the Pearson correlation test showed significant linear dependence between ASL-rCBF(0.56±0.14)and DSC-rMTT(1.34± 0.42), and DSC-rTTP(1.09 ± 0.69)(r=-0.630,-0.748, P<0.01). Conclusions There is a correlation between 3D-ASL and DSC-PWI in assessing the magnitude and areas of the reduction of blood perfusion of Moyamoya patients. Moreover, the ASL technique possesses advantages of non-invasion use of the gadolinium contrast.

In this study, we explored the operation options for middle cranial fossa arachnoid cysts (MCFAC). One hundred and forty-nine patients who were operated for a symptomatic MCFAC between 1993 and 2006 in our hosptial were analyzed. Follow-up time ranged from 1 y to 14 y (mean=5.4 y). All these patients were divided into three subgroups according to Galassi classification. Long-term outcome and complications were studied respectively. Fenestration (F) resulted in a more favorable long-term outcome and less complication for cysts of types I and II, whereas a favorable outcome was noted in type III patients who underwent cysto-peritoneal shunting (S). We are led to conclude that Fenestration is suitable for cysts of types I and II (Galassi classification), cysto-peritoneal shunting is better for cysts of type III.

The development and compilation of Evidence-based Guidelines of Clinical Practice with Acupuncture and Moxibustion: Adult Bronchial Asthma are introduced from three aspects, named the guideline methodology, the guideline structure and the guideline content. Based on the acupuncture-moxibustion practice and clinical research, the evidence-based medicine method is adopted. During the development and compilation of the guideline, the characteristics and advantages of acupuncture and moxibustion are specially considered in the treatment of this disease; the latest optimum evidences at home and abroad, experts' experience and patients' value are closely integrated with each other. Additionally, the worldwide accepted assessments of evidence quality and the recommendation (GRADE system) are combined with the clinical evidences of the ancient and modern famous acupuncture-moxibustion experts, and the clinical research evidences are with the experts' consensus to the large extent. The purpose of the guideline is to provide the maximal guidance to the clinical physicians.
Asthma ; therapy ; Evidence-Based Medicine ; standards ; Humans ; Moxibustion ; standards ; Practice Guidelines as Topic ; Reference Books

An in vivo model of glutamate excitotoxicity in which glutamate is applied to the cortex of rats through a microdialysis probe has been used to investigate the neuroprotective processes initiated by 17β-estradiol. Rats were pre-treated with 17β-estradiol i.v. before local application of glutamate. The experimental results showed that pre-treatment with 17β-estradiol significantly reduced the size of the glutamate-induced lesion. In the microdialysates, the peak of lactate observed immediately after glutamate application was significantly higher and longer lasting after 17β-estradiol pre-treatment. The level of extracellular glucose was markedly decreased concomitantly to the increase in lactate, but no difference could be observed with and without 17β-estradiol pre-treatment. These suggest a new neuroprotective mechanism of 17β-estradiol by activating glutamate-induced lactate production. This effect on lactate production and lesion reduction is estrogen receptor dependent and is abolished totally by estrogen antagonist tamoxifen. It was also demonstrated here that high lactate subserves estrogen neuroprotection during glutamate toxicity.

An in vivo model of glutamate excitotoxicity in which glutamate is applied to the cortex of rats through a microdialysis probe has been used to investigate the neuroprotective processes initiated by 17β-estradiol. Rats were pre-treated with 17β-estradiol i.v. before local application of glutamate. The experimental results showed that pre-treatment with 17β-estradiol significantly reduced the size of the glutamate-induced lesion. In the microdialysates, the peak of lactate observed immediately after glutamate application was significantly higher and longer lasting after 17β-estradiol pre-treatment. The level of extracellular glucose was markedly decreased concomitantly to the increase in lactate, but no difference could be observed with and without 17β-estradiol pre-treatment. These suggest a new neuroprotective mechanism of 17β-estradiol by activating glutamate-induced lactate production. This effect on lactate production and lesion reduction is estrogen receptor dependent and is abolished totally by estrogen antagonist tamoxifen. It was also demonstrated here that high lactate subserves estrogen neuroprotection during glutamate toxicity.

Little is known about whether tamoxifen (TAM) can affect resting state microglia apoptosis and about the cellular mechanism that may account for this.To explore this question,we incubated the microglia cell line BV-2 cells with TAM at different concentrations.Cell viability was assessed by the MTT assay,and flow cytometric analysis was performed to detect the cell apoptosis rate.Furthermore,mitochondrial membrane potential (△ψm) was tested by flow cytometry,and Bax,Bcl-2,Fas,and Fas-L expression was detected by Western blot.The results demonstrated that TAM decreased cell viability and induced apoptosis of BV-2 cells in a concentration- and time-dependent manner.In addition,disruption of Δψm was followed by up-regulated expression of pro-apoptotic Bax,Fas and Fas-L,and down-regulated expression of anti-apoptotic Bcl-2.These results indicate that TAM may induce apoptosis of BV-2 cells through both mitochondria- and death receptor-mediated pathways.

In this study, we explored the operation options for middle cranial fossa arachnoid cysts(MCFAC). One hundred and forty-nine patients who were operated for a symptomatic MCFAC between 1993 and 2006 in our hosptial were analyzed. Follow-up time ranged from 1 y to 14 y(mean=5.4 y). All these patients were divided into three subgroups according to Galassi classification.Long-term outcome and complications were studied respectively. Fenestration (F) resulted in a more favorable long-term outcome and less complication for cysts of types Ⅰ and Ⅱ, whereas a favorable outcome was noted in type Ⅲ patients who underwent cysto-peritoneal shunting (S). We are led to conclude that Fenestration is suitable for cysts of types Ⅰ and Ⅱ (Galassi classification),cysto-peritoneal shunting is better for cysts of type Ⅲ.